Winners

Corporations and oil companies: No changes to the 10 per cent corporate income tax rate and no changes to oil royalties. The government said raising them could tip the province into recession.

The working poor: Any family making less than $41,220 annually will be eligible for the Alberta Working Family Supplement, which provides a refundable tax credit of up to $2,750 depending on the number of children in the family.

Losers

The wealthy: The province is ending its 10 per cent flat income tax system and phasing in two new tax brackets for anyone making more than $100,000 a year.

The middle class: The budget contains a health levy to be paid by individuals making more than $50,000. It is tied to income and capped at $1,000 annually. There are also a host of fee increases. In total, a single person making $60,000 a year can expect to pay $161 more annually. A two-income family making $120,000 a year with two children can expect to pay $288 more.

Drivers: The gasoline tax is going up by four cents a litre starting Friday. Fees to register vehicles are going up by $9. Traffic fines are being increased by an average of 35 per cent.

Smokers and drinkers: A bottle of wine will cost 16 cents more while 12 beers will cost an extra 90 cents. The tax on a carton of smokes is going up $5 to $45.

Charities: The Charitable Donation Tax Credit is being reduced to 12.75 per cent from 21 per cent for donations more than $200.

Do you take this road?

Global NewsFunding for the Calgary ring road was cut five per cent in the 2015 budget, deferring completion of the west section until at least 2020.

by Global News3/26/2015 10:05:41 PM

“When you look at infrastructure builds we’re going to do for roads and bridges, I think people can feel comfortable their money’s being well spent,”

Finance Minister Robin Campbell.Overall, the 2015 budget’s capital plan supports $29.5 billion in projects over five years, including $4.8 billion in capital maintenance and renewal.

by Global News3/26/2015 10:09:31 PM

Good news from Alberta’s Budget 2015: A Calgary cancer centre will be funded over the next five years.

Bad news: It will have to compete for limited dollars with two Edmonton facilities in dire need of repair, the Royal Alexandra and Misericordia hospitals. And the earmarked funding is at least $2 billion short of what’s needed.